The Elven Star Interpretations

Mystery 4: Struggling with the Shadow Self

Conflict is unavoidable in life, it is a defining feature of our environment. Teachers who advise us to shun it are being unrealistic, almost fanciful. We will certainly experience it, and it is best to welcome it and bring wisdom and truth to the matter instead of the pink and fluffy delusion that by offering our blind obedience to the status quo we all live happily ever after. There are indeed times to turn the other cheek, and yet there are also times to defend a principle with our lives. First of all comes the realisation that all is not well. From this we start the process by which, in the name of Freedom, we say Goodbye to unwarranted limitation.

Beginners' Guide Video

Primary Word: Goodbye

Are you good at avoiding being stuck in a rut?Life is about movement so being stuck in any situation is not healthy. There is a strong tendency for all of us to continue to do what we have always done, and this carves the track of our lives. It becomes increasingly difficult to cut new paths when the old ones are deep and unquestioned so we may be caught up or bogged down without knowing we are. We must realise that such unconscious habits of behaviour need to be avoided lest we become trapped and begin to lose vitality.

Do you have courage to move into the unknown? Typically many people fear the unknown. It takes decisive courage to overcome our disinclination to take risks, and this applies to all areas of life. New job, new town, and new relationship – these are all obvious. What about new opinions, new perceptions, and new beliefs? We know so very little. The universe of possibilities is vast and mainly unexplored, waiting there for our readiness to have an adventure.

Do you quickly let go of the past? This question is profoundly correlated with happiness. To be happy usually means that we can let go of what we cannot influence. Mulling over our personal history can be useful if it brings a better awareness of the present, yet dwelling on past pain, lost opportunities, errors of judgement and so on – this will never bring us what we want. Life is now; it is the only thing that is real. So when we have properly completed our involvements, and tied up what needs to be resolved, then to move on requires us to let go

There is a universal formula that describes interactions between people. Firstly there is exclusion, then casual enquiry, then intimacy, and then separation. These interactions can be imagined as the reaching out of strands of psychic energy like tentacles. At first they have little impact but, as intimacy develops, they become as if sticky. The closer two people get emotionally, the stickier become the tentacles until they are increasingly inseparable.

Realisation leads to Decision in a straightforward, courageous person. Most people are neither, and hide the truth from themselves in order to avoid facing up to the need for a difficult decision, for which they lack the courage. Courage is not easily developed at all, but what can replace it is faith.

Freedom is a state of mind as much as it is the capacity to resist invasive forces and do what we choose. Nietzsche speaks of the slave mentality that locks up the minds of people and binds them into their own personal prisons. To be free we have to find a way to shrug off unconscious obedience and any expectations of limitation that impact our sense of liberty.

What is Elven Star?

It is a mystical / magical study of the resonance of number 7, using Sufi philosophy and Sabian Symbols to gain access to hidden and subtle aspects of the self. For their work in bringing Sabian wisdom into form, Wheeler, Jones and Rudhyar are to be acknowledged. The 7 Words System is an application of the tradition teachings of Sufism known as the 7 Planes of Consciousness. Trainings may become available - please let me know if you are interested.​James

To access the Elven Star teachings:1) Study each of your 7 Elven Star Sabian Symbols repeatedly and deeply until your familiarity with their wisdom goes beyond the surface level. 2) By gaining insight into the 7 Words System, find your own understanding of what is taught with these interpretation pages as Mystery 1, Mystery 2 and so on.3) Through meditation and contemplation, find a way to assimilate all of the 7 mysteries into a composite awareness of an aspect of yourself that you hold to be the best, the highest, the most soul-expressive and inspiring.4) Affirm your willingness and intention to change your life in some way in order to reflect your expanded sense of self. If you have not the motivation to do so, then you have not completed this work.​

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